The Art of Politics: 35 Artists Selected to Create Good Trouble

by BAIA Staff

John Lewis well understood the art of politics. Unlike many politicians, the late congressman and civil rights leader knew, regardless of his official position as a government leader, his special brand of political power came from remaining true to his activist roots. Ever the rabble-rouser, Lewis made “good trouble” throughout his extraordinary life knowing that, in a democracy, the masses should ultimately move the leadership and not the other way around. 

Artists strive to understand the art of politics as well, albeit from a different, more visual lens. Where Lewis would offer an inspiring speech or champion a cause, visual artists possess the creative capacity, through the production of one symbolic or poignant image, to also impact the hearts and minds of millions.

Such sentiment is on full display with the GOOD TROUBLE/U DECIDE get-out-the-vote poster exhibit now appearing at major intersections and stores in Washington, DC, Austin, Texas, and other select cities across the nation.  Organized by the Center for Contemporary Political Art (CCPArt), a jury selected 35 artists from a nationwide pool of over 600 submissions to produce the images for the campaign. The exhibition promotes how it was “inspired by John Lewis’ courage and our belief that art can help the American people see through the often dishonest and divisive rhetoric that passes for political discourse in the United States today.”  

The posters are available online at https://www.politicsartus.org/good-trouble-exhibition/.  All are encouraged to download the jpegs, print them, and display wherever in the country it will do some good—or make some “good trouble.”